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  • Is AI Killing Accounting? Lucy Cohen on the Future of Accountants

    Is AI Killing Accounting? Lucy Cohen on the Future of Accountants
    2026/10/07

    Is AI about to replace accountants, or are we overlooking what makes human expertise so valuable?

    This week on Business Without BS, Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta are joined by Lucy Cohen, co-founder of Mazuma, the youngest-ever President of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), and a doctoral researcher investigating artificial intelligence in accounting and finance.

    Lucy started Mazuma at just 23 with £100, a laptop and an idea that challenged the traditional accounting industry. Nearly two decades later, she's questioning another major transformation: the rise of AI.

    But while businesses rush to automate everything, are we creating a bigger problem?

    Lucy explores the dangers of AI-generated financial information, what she calls “deep fake accounting”, and why replacing experienced accountants could leave businesses exposed to mistakes they don't even know they're making.

    The conversation also covers Making Tax Digital, the realities of running a small business, the challenges of changing established systems and why accountants need to demonstrate their value beyond spreadsheets and tax returns.

    In this episode:

    • Is AI really killing accounting?
    • Why AI-generated numbers could create serious problems for businesses
    • What is “deep fake accounting”?
    • How Lucy built Mazuma with just £100
    • Making Tax Digital: progress or unnecessary complexity?
    • Why human judgement and experience still matter
    • The future of accountants, entrepreneurs and professional services

    Business Without BS brings you real-world business intelligence through honest conversations with people who challenge conventional thinking.

    No gurus. No fluff. No BS.

    Hosted by Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta.

    Powered by Oury Clark.

    Connect with the hosts:

    Andy Oury: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewoury/

    Jemma Hotta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-hotta/

    🔗 Connect with the guest:

    Lucy Cohen – LinkedIn

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucycohen/

    Lucy Cohen – Website

    https://www.lucycohen.uk

    Watch and follow Business Without BS:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bwblondon

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwblondon/

    Website: https://withoutbs.com
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    1 時間 24 分
  • The Next UK Budget: What’s Coming for Your Taxes?

    The Next UK Budget: What’s Coming for Your Taxes?
    2026/09/23
    #UKBudget #BudgetPredictions #Tax #BusinessWithoutBS #TheRebelAccountant What’s actually going to happen in the next Budget, and what’s just noise? In this special episode of Business Without BS, Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta put the rumours, headlines and tax speculation under the microscope and make their predictions for the upcoming Budget. From pensions and capital gains tax to wealth taxes, property, inheritance tax and frozen thresholds, they break down what they think could change, what probably won’t, and the consequences those decisions could have for entrepreneurs, business owners and taxpayers. Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant, you just don't have to pay for it.Honest opinions, practical insights and no unnecessary jargon. 🎯 In this special episode, you'll hear: • Why Andy and Jemma think pensions could be targeted • Could Capital Gains Tax increase again? • Will the UK actually introduce a wealth tax? • Why a land value tax keeps entering the conversation • Could stamp duty and council tax ever be replaced? • Why frozen tax thresholds matter more than they might seem • What could happen to dividend taxes and the self-employed • Could inheritance tax be changed again? • Why Andy believes the tax system needs long-term reform rather than constant tinkering 🔮 Their predictions? Andy expects tax thresholds to remain frozen or become less generous, and doesn't expect a wealth tax. Jemma expects further changes around pensions, but doesn't expect stamp duty land tax to disappear. Now the question is: how much will they get right? 📌 About the hosts Andy Oury is a Chartered Tax Adviser, Chartered Accountant and CEO of Oury Clark. Through The Rebel Accountant**, he challenges conventional thinking around tax, entrepreneurship and the economy. Jemma Hotta brings the legal perspective to Business Without BS, cutting through the complexity behind the rules and what they mean in practice. 🎧 Listen to Business Without BS wherever you get your podcasts: ▶ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/business-without-bs/id1528844106 ▶ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6J1YMncmYCLODOKi8A0CFU ▶ Website https://withoutbs.com 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with the experts you'd normally have to hire. https://www.youtube.com/@bwblondon
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    34 分
  • UK Budget Predictions: What’s Really Going to Change?

    UK Budget Predictions: What’s Really Going to Change?
    2026/09/23
    The UK Budget is coming — but what’s actually likely to change, and what’s just speculation? In this special episode of Business Without BS, Andy Oury and Jemma Hossa break down their predictions for the upcoming UK Budget, looking beyond the headlines at the tax changes that could affect individuals, entrepreneurs and business owners. From pensions and Capital Gains Tax to wealth taxes, property taxes, inheritance tax and frozen thresholds, Andy and Jemma look at the options available to the government, what they think could realistically happen and the potential consequences. Could pensions be targeted? Will Capital Gains Tax rise? Is a UK wealth tax realistic? Could stamp duty eventually disappear? And are frozen tax thresholds already functioning like a tax rise? Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant — you just don’t have to pay for it. In this episode: • What could happen to pensions in the next Budget • Capital Gains Tax — could rates rise again? • Why wealth tax remains such a controversial proposal • Stamp duty, council tax and the case for a land value tax • Why frozen tax thresholds matter • Inheritance tax and changing allowances • The impact tax changes could have on entrepreneurs and SMEs • Andy and Jemma make their Budget predictions No political theatre. No unnecessary jargon. Just Business Without BS.
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    34 分
  • Building an Award-Winning Drinks Brand From Scratch | Maya Bedeau

    Building an Award-Winning Drinks Brand From Scratch | Maya Bedeau
    2026/09/09
    What does it really take to turn an idea into a consumer brand, and convince investors to back you before you've even finished the product? Maya Bedeau is the founder of 'Onest Energy, a natural energy drink created to bring more transparency to a crowded category. Just eight months after launching, 'Onest won Best Sports & Energy Drink at the UK Soft Drinks Awards, competing against established brands with significantly more history and money behind them. Maya joins Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta to talk about what building a physical consumer brand actually looks like behind the scenes - from raising £225,000 in early investment and establishing a valuation before launch, to manufacturing, distribution, marketing and finding the right audience. They also get into the importance of authenticity in founder-led marketing, why your audience needs to see themselves represented in your brand, choosing investors for more than their money, and why listening to too many opinions can sometimes pull a founder away from the original vision. And, of course, Maya faces Business or BS, with takes on first-mover advantage, revenue vs profit, VC investment, Bitcoin and more. Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant, you just don't have to pay for it. Honest opinions, practical insights and no unnecessary jargon. In this episode: • Building a consumer brand from scratch • Raising investment before having a finished product • SEIS and early-stage startup funding • How founders value a business before meaningful revenue • Breaking into a crowded drinks market • Finding and understanding your target audience • Authenticity and founder-led marketing • Building in public and putting your team on camera • Choosing the right investors • Why founders shouldn't listen to every opinion • First-mover advantage and competing with established brands • Revenue vs profit • Business or BS About Maya Bedeau Maya Bedeau is the founder of 'Onest Energy, a natural energy drink brand focused on transparency and providing an alternative within the traditional energy-drink category. Before launching 'Onest, Maya spent years working inside another drinks startup, where she gained hands-on experience across marketing and the realities of running a small business. Connect with Maya LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-bedeau-08951a109/ 'Onest Energy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkonest/?hl=en Connect with Business Without BS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bwblondon Website: https://withoutbs.com Connect with Andy Oury LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewoury/
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    59 分
  • The Reality of Being a Sole Trader: No Safety Net, Just Get On With It | Giulio Miglietta

    The Reality of Being a Sole Trader: No Safety Net, Just Get On With It | Giulio Miglietta
    2026/08/26
    What does it really mean to work for yourself? There are around four million sole traders in the UK, yet they rarely get the same attention as employees, startups or big businesses. No paid holiday. No guaranteed salary. No corporate safety net. You find the work, do the work, chase the invoice — and then do it all again. That's exactly the world this episode explores. This week, Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta are joined by Giulio Miglietta, a multidisciplinary artist, craftsman and long-time sole trader. Giulio's route into business was anything but conventional. He arrived in London with around £200, couch-surfed and occasionally slept at Victoria Coach Station while trying to create a life and career for himself. His goal was deliberately to get uncomfortable, find opportunities and learn how to make things work. That journey eventually took him through graphic design, illustration and lecturing before developing his own multidisciplinary embroidery studio and distinctive creative practice. The conversation gets into the reality behind self-employment: independence, uncertainty, finding clients, building skills, standing out in a crowded creative market and choosing a career where there isn't always a safety net. And because this is Business Without BS, there's also plenty that has absolutely nothing to do with sensible business advice — including why an Italian prefers tea to espresso and whether Giulio needs to find himself a vice. In this episode: • Giulio's journey from Italy to London with just £200 • Couch-surfing, squatting and deliberately choosing discomfort • How struggle helped him develop determination and spot opportunities • Building a career through transferable skills rather than following a traditional path • Going from graphic design and illustration to becoming a sole trader • Why independence is such a big part of self-employment • The reality of having no paid holiday or traditional employee safety net • Whether social media has made it easier or harder for young creatives to build careers • Why standing out matters more than ever • The forgotten role of craftspeople and sole traders in the economy • Tea vs espresso — and Giulio's questionable status as an Italian This episode also ties into The Rebel Accountant's Sole Trader Anthem — a rallying cry for the millions of people working for themselves across the UK. Think of Business Without BS as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant — you just don't have to pay for it. No unnecessary jargon. No corporate b****t. Just conversations about what running a business is actually like.
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    1 時間 20 分
  • Tax Havens Aren’t What You Think | Tom Dugdale

    Tax Havens Aren’t What You Think | Tom Dugdale
    2026/08/12
    Everybody has an opinion on tax havens. But how many people actually understand what they do? This week on Business Without Bullshit, Andy and Gemma are joined by Tom Dugdale, a lawyer who has led Harneys’ Offshore Funds team in the UK for the last eight years, working across jurisdictions including the BVI, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Jersey and beyond. Together, they get beyond the headlines and ask what tax havens — or international finance centres, are actually for. Are they simply places for the wealthy to hide money? Or are they an important piece of the plumbing behind international business, investment funds and the global economy? They discuss why offshore structures exist, the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion, why “zero tax” doesn’t necessarily mean no tax is ever paid, the role offshore jurisdictions play in investment funds and pensions, and whether tax competition actually puts a useful limit on governments. They also get into the Panama Papers, offshore secrecy and transparency, regulation and anti-money-laundering rules, America’s unusual position in the system, and the surprising history of Britain’s own offshore territories. And there’s a bigger question underneath it all: What would global finance actually look like without tax havens? No slogans. No easy villains. Just a proper look at how the system actually works. 🎙️ Business Without Bullshit Featuring Tom Dugdale, Andy and Jemma.
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    1 時間 12 分
  • Can Andy Burnham Fix Britain's Economy? | Special Episode

    Can Andy Burnham Fix Britain's Economy? | Special Episode
    2026/07/31
    The UK has a new Prime Minister. Now come the big questions. In this special episode of Business Without BS, Chartered Tax Adviser Andy Oury and commercial lawyer Jemma Hotta discuss the policies they hope Andy Burnham will prioritise to help Britain become a stronger place to build businesses, attract investment and drive long-term economic growth. Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant—you just don't have to pay for it. Honest opinions, practical insights and no political spin. In this episode: How can the UK attract more foreign direct investment? What incentives should Britain offer entrepreneurs? Can Britain compete globally in AI and innovation? Should wealth creation be encouraged or taxed? How can SMEs become the engine of economic growth? What should Andy Burnham's first priorities be? What policies would actually encourage businesses to invest? How can Britain become more competitive internationally? About the guests Andy Oury Andy Oury is a Chartered Tax Adviser, Chartered Accountant and CEO of Oury Clark. Through The Rebel Accountant, he helps entrepreneurs understand tax, build stronger businesses and challenge common misconceptions about the economy. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewoury/ Jemma Hotta Jemma Hotta is a commercial lawyer specialising in corporate law, international business and complex legal structures. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-hotta/ Listen to Business Without BS Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/business-without-bs/id1528844106 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6J1YMncmYCLODOKi8A0CFU Website https://withoutbs.com Subscribe for more conversations with the experts you'd normally have to hire.
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    23 分
  • Tax Havens: A Deep Dive into Legitimacy and Ethics

    Tax Havens: A Deep Dive into Legitimacy and Ethics
    2026/07/29
    The focal premise of this podcast episode centers on the pervasive misconceptions surrounding tax havens and their perceived utility for affluent individuals. I elucidate that the notion that wealthy citizens are evading taxes through offshore accounts lacks substantive foundation, as contemporary regulations have significantly curtailed such practices. We explore the historical context of tax havens, tracing their emergence to post-war fiscal policies, and discuss the intricate balance between legal tax optimization and ethical considerations. Furthermore, I emphasize that while there may exist specific scenarios where offshore entities could be beneficial, these instances are exceedingly rare and fraught with complexity. Ultimately, we advocate for a nuanced understanding of taxation, underscoring that the current UK corporate tax framework offers several advantages that should not be overlooked. Takeaways: The common misconception that wealthy individuals exploit tax havens to evade taxes is largely unfounded. Tax havens are not as beneficial for individuals and businesses as public perception suggests. The increasing regulation surrounding offshore accounts has made it exceedingly challenging to utilize tax havens effectively. The UK provides a favorable corporate tax environment, which can serve as an attractive alternative to offshore tax planning. Companies mentioned in this episode: Gary Stevenson Tom Dugdale Jimmy Carr
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    38 分